Accusative Prepositions
Five prepositions that always require the accusative case: durch, für, gegen, ohne, um.
Overview
Five German prepositions always require the accusative case, no exceptions. They are: durch, für, gegen, ohne, um.
A popular mnemonic: "Durch, für, gegen, ohne, um — Akkusativ ist gar nicht dumm!"
Unlike the two-way prepositions, these never take dative — making them simpler to learn once you memorize the list.
Das Geschenk ist für meinen Bruder. — The gift is for my brother.
Accusative Article Forms
Quick reference for articles in the accusative case:
| Gender | Definite | Indefinite |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | den | einen |
| Feminine | die | eine |
| Neuter | das | ein |
| Plural | die | — |
Only masculine shows a visible change from nominative (der → den, ein → einen). Feminine, neuter, and plural stay the same.
durch
Meaning: through, by (means of)
Wir gehen durch den Park. — We walk through the park.
Sie fährt durch die Stadt. — She drives through the city.
Das Fenster wurde durch einen Stein zerbrochen. — The window was broken by a stone.
"Durch" is used for physical passage through a space, and sometimes for the agent in passive constructions.
für
Meaning: for
Das ist für meinen Vater. — That is for my father.
Ich brauche Geld für die Miete. — I need money for the rent.
Er arbeitet für eine große Firma. — He works for a large company.
"Für" is the most common accusative preposition — you will use it constantly. It covers "for" in most senses: purpose, benefit, duration.
gegen
Meaning: against; around (approximate time)
Wir spielen gegen die andere Mannschaft. — We play against the other team.
Er ist gegen den Plan. — He is against the plan.
Sie kommt gegen drei Uhr. — She arrives around three o'clock.
When used with time, "gegen" means "approximately" and often appears without an article.
ohne
Meaning: without
Ich trinke Kaffee ohne Zucker. — I drink coffee without sugar.
Er geht ohne seinen Bruder. — He goes without his brother.
Sie ist ohne Jacke gekommen. — She came without a jacket.
Note: ohne frequently drops the article, especially with uncountable nouns or general concepts (ohne Schuhe, ohne Geld, ohne Arbeit).
um
Meaning: around (spatial); at (exact time)
Sie laufen um den See. — They walk around the lake.
Um wie viel Uhr? — Um neun Uhr. — At what time? — At nine o'clock.
Er sitzt um den Tisch herum. — He sits around the table.
For clock times, "um" is used without an article: "um drei Uhr." For spatial "around," it takes the accusative article.
Tips
- Only masculine shows a visible change (der → den, ein → einen) — feminine, neuter, and plural look the same as nominative.
- "für" is the most common accusative preposition — practice it the most.
- "ohne" often drops the article entirely — "ohne Schuhe," "ohne Probleme."
- Don't confuse these with dative prepositions (mit, von, zu, bei, nach, seit, aus) — those ALWAYS take dative.